Francisco Reséndez Novoa Dies at 85, Leaving Behind a Legacy of ‘Scooby-Doo’ and ‘The Simpsons'
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Generations across Latin America grew up with a voice that never demanded the spotlight. That voice slipped into living rooms through cartoon dogs solving mysteries and yellow-skinned families stumbling through daily chaos. Behind that work stood a career spanning six decades of dubbing booths and studio sessions. Francisco Reséndez Novoa built that legacy quietly, and the industry now reckons with what his absence means.
While tributes spread quickly across studios and social feeds, one simple truth now anchors every memory shared across generations.
Scooby-Doo and The Simpsons dubbing legend, Francisco Reséndez Novoa, remembered at 85
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Francisco Reséndez Novoa, the voice actor who defined generations of Scooby-Doo and The Simpsons dubbing in Latin America, died at 85. Reséndez passed away on September 3, 2026, as tributes spread through the dubbing community. He spent more than 65 years lending his voice to animated icons, live-action films, and anime characters. His passing marks the end of an era that shaped how Spanish-speaking audiences experienced global entertainment.
RECORD DATE NOT STATED THE SIMPSONS, from left: Lisa Simpson voice: Yeardley Smith, Homer Simpson voice: Dan Castellaneta, Marge Simpson voice: Julie Kavner, Maggie Simpson, Bart Simpson voice: Nancy Cartwright, My Life as a Vlog , Season 34, ep. 3405, aired Jan. 1, 2023. photo: Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY
RECORD DATE NOT STATED THE SIMPSONS, from left: Lisa Simpson voice: Yeardley Smith, Homer Simpson voice: Dan Castellaneta, Marge Simpson voice: Julie Kavner, Maggie Simpson, Bart Simpson voice: Nancy Cartwright, My Life as a Vlog , Season 34, ep. 3405, aired Jan. 1, 2023. photo: Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY
Beyond Scooby-Doo, Reséndez voiced Commander Dot Pixis in the Latin American dub of Attack on Titan, matching Masahiko Tanaka's performance. He also directed the Spanish adaptation of The Simpsons through its earliest seasons, overseeing a demanding casting process guided by Matt Groening. Colleagues often called him Paco or Paquito, a nickname that stuck across studios like Audiomaster 3000 and Central Entertainment. His cousin Vicky Burgoa remains a respected voice actress in the same industry.
While one legendary Scooby-Doo voice fades into memory, another piece still waits to be unlocked.
Scoob! Holiday Haunt hopes for a rescue of its own
Director Michael Kurinsky is pushing for Scoob! Holiday Haunt to finally reach audiences, pointing to the recent success of Coyote vs. Acme. Kurinsky called the finished film a Scooby-Doo mystery built for Christmas viewing, with an A-list cast. He tagged actors including Mark Hamill and Ariana Greenblatt, asking who might champion the project the way Ketchup Entertainment championed Coyote vs. Acme. The film has sat completed since 2022, shelved alongside Batgirl for tax purposes.
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via Imago
Credits: Imago
Coyote vs. Acme stands as proof that abandoned projects can find new life, earning a high Rotten Tomatoes score and a strong box office debut after Ketchup Entertainment rescued it from the vault. Warner Bros. holds Scoob! Holiday Haunt, finished and ready, waiting for a distributor willing to take a similar risk. Kurinsky's plea keeps that possibility alive as the animation world absorbs a heavier loss. Francisco Reséndez Novoa's voice may be gone, but the characters he built keep searching for new chapters.
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What are your thoughts on Francisco Reséndez Novoa's legacy and Scoob! Holiday Haunt's future? Let us know in the comments.
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Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui
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